Week 13 3×3: Mizzou, SEC, and National College Football Preview

Nov 22, 2024 | Uncategorized

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NCAA Football: Michigan at Indiana
Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

Week 13 and time for the 3×3! Mizzou hits the road again, it’s a cupcake week in the SEC, and a pair of Davids try to take down Goliath.

Each Friday, I will grace these electronic pages to preview the week ahead in college football with my “Three by Three.” I’ll take a gander at three interesting things each in the Mizzou matchup, in the SEC, and around the nation. I’ll try to hit some under-the-radar things, too.

Missouri at Mississippi State — 3:15 PM on SEC Network

Let the offensive line feast

This is a rebuilding year for Mississippi State, a roster at a nexus of two coaching changes in two years, the accompanying speed bump in high school recruiting, a meager portal haul, and then a swath of injuries. The team’s competitive depth has absolutely vanished, and nowhere is the dearth of talent more obvious than in the front seven. Injuries have crushed this unit that was thin to begin with, that was built with backups from other schools.

Mizzou’s O-line had their best week of the season against SC last week, and should keep those good vibes going to prepare for the matchup against Landon Jackson and the Razorbacks.

Slow down explosives

The Bulldogs have one weapon on offense: they are pretty good at creating explosive plays. True freshman Michael Van Buren is a physical toolbox at quarterback, and Louisville transfer Kevin Coleman is one of the most underrated players in the SEC. But, their offensive line can not protect. Mizzou will need to crash the pocket while still keeping guys in the pattern as they overwhelm the Bulldogs up front, and wrap up Coleman to prevent YAC.

Win comfortably

If Mizzou achieves those two things, they should dominate. They can turn the game into a laugher — something needed after the last month of roller coaster rides. A nice, comfortable road win would be a welcome salve after the chaotic Auburn, Oklahoma, and South Carolina games. Plus, it would be a chance to get even more looks at the highly rated recruits waiting in the wings. LB Nicholas Rodriguez, DE Williams Nwaneri, RB Kewan Lacey, WR Joshua Manning, DB Shamar McNeil and others have all gotten a cup of coffee in recent weeks, and it is nice to see the future of the program do more than just get their feet wet.

In the SEC

Ole Miss at Florida — 11 AM on ABC

It’s a thin week in the SEC when this game gets top billing. There is no ranked-on-ranked action, and most teams are playing cupcakes: Tennessee (UTEP), Georgia (UMass), South Carolina (Wofford), Arkansas (LaTech), and Alabama (Oklahoma) all have easily digested foes. Ole Miss has rebounded nicely from their midseason losses, and now need to take care of a Florida team that is rallying around the totally not fired Billy Napier. Florida true frosh quarterback DJ Lagway is already appointment viewing, and it will be fun to watch him against this aggressive, havoc-y Ole Miss front.

Texas A&M at Auburn —6:30 on ESPN

It has been almost a month since we last saw Texas A&M be good. Since their comeback win over LSU the week before Halloween, they have been demolished by South Carolina, had a bye week, and took care of business against a cupcake. One of the biggest games in school history looms next weekend against Texas, but first, they need to take care of an Auburn team at night on the road. It would behoove the Aggies to win in convincing fashion to remind the national viewership what a good version of their team looks like.

Vanderbilt at LSU — 6:45 on SEC Network

For, like, the sixth week in a row, Diego Pavia has a chance to do the funniest thing. Our collective schadenfreude might actually break social media and the college football message board ecosystem if Brian Kelly loses to Vanderbilt two days after losing his top recruit. The ‘Dores could absolutely pull it off, by the way — LSU is playing their worst ball of the season, and looks ordinary in the trench.

Around the Nation

UNLV at San Jose State — 9 PM on FS1

This is a fun little Friday night matchup between two Mountwain West overachievers. Both teams have an excellent wide receiver who has a dual identity. UNLV’s Ricky White is a special teams ace who has blocked four kicks this season, and San Jose State’s Nick Nash used to be the team’s quarterback, and has dialed up two touchdown passes this year on trick plays. Oh, and they have combined for over 2,000 yards and 20 touchdowns at their day jobs.

Indiana at Ohio State — 11 AM on FOX

I have written about Indiana in this space a few times this season. As a JMU Dukes supporter by family, I have been following and rooting for Curt Cignetti’s upstart team, which has elevated thanks to an influx of about 15 former JMU stars. Their undefeated run could come crashing down to Earth in Columbus, or perhaps they turn the entire sport on its ear on Saturday. The HoosierDukes are built just like Cignetti’s exciting JMU squads: a balanced offense that stays aggressive and runs a healthy dose of RPOs, and a defense anchored by an incredible line. I am excited to see these guys I supported in purple and gold — Kamara, Carpenter, Sarratt, Lawton, Horton, Fisher, etc — get their moment on the big stage, and really hope they don’t get flattened by Ohio State.

Army vs Notre Dame (from The Bronx, New York) — 7 PM on NBC

The Black Knights should stand a better chance on Saturday night against Notre Dame than their academy brethren Navy did earlier in the year against the Irish. The Midshipmen were sank by a barrage of self-inflicted disasters, turning the ball over repeatedly despite creating some chunk plays with the big play offense. Army runs the conventional academy flexbone triple option, unlike Navy’s funky new hybrid attack, and have an excellent signal caller just right for the system in Bryson Dailey. When it is working, the system protects the ball, chews the clock, shortens the game, and puts defenses in matchup hell. Army absolutely has more than just a fighting chance in this battle in a game that is excellent for its own merits, an addition to shaping the playoff chase.

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